In my own home, I make sure my cats have enough food and water every morning before leaving. I do the litter box every day. My cats and the roommate’s cats have reached an agreement of rooms, but in the beginning, we alternated keeping hers in a room, then mine, so the other pair could explore the house. In your house, I would not touch your dog or cat while eating. I wouldn’t go looking for the cat. I’d wait for the animals to approach me, usually sitting calmly on the floor.